My incarcerated fiancé is having doubts about us, how can I reassure him I'm not leaving?

My fiancé has lost contact with most friends and family, so I don’t blame him for having some trust issues. We have been together for five years, he has been incarcerated for about a year. I have always been honest and faithful during our relationship. Almost every time we talk on the phone, he questions my faithfulness and if I’m really going to ride out the rest of his 8 year sentence. I love this man more than anything! What can I do to make him believe that I’m not going anywhere and I never will? 

Sincerely,

Anonymous 

Dear Anonymous,

 Wow! It sounds like you are completely devoted to your fiancé. He is very lucky to have someone committed to standing by his side while he serves his sentence. Of course, your relationship with your fiancé is much different now than it was when he was living as a free man. There are countless different reasons why he might have these feelings…. it is completely normal for an inmate to feel doubtful about others on the outside. If your incarcerated loved one is having a hard time, try your best to reassure him that you are in this for the long haul. Keeping an open and honest relationship is always recommended. Let your inmate know what your intentions are, but also keep in mind your feelings are just as important as his. If you feel he is bringing the topic up excessively, or if your boundaries are being violated, voice that concern too. It does take some time to adjust to this “new normal” you are both experiencing, and we always encourage honesty as much as possible. 

Sincerely,

The Inmate Connection